Yet another newbie with questions..

[Schneeky]

..Hey guys.. Thanks for this great forum.. Hat's off to ya.!!

..I'm looking for some kindof little tractor to shuffle boats and trailers around my yard plus be able to lift and move outboards (front loader?).. If I could get a mower in on the deal to replace my rider that would be nice but not really necessary.. Seems like I'd prolly be better off just keeping the mower and tractor jobs separate on this small of a place(<acre)..

..Anyways, I searched a few pages back and I think most similar newbie threads I found were concerned with heavier applications.. Buying new goes against my DNA but I don't want a klunker I hafta fight with every time either.. Since re-sale is such a big consideration I don't wanna get too off the wall with brand names.. Seems there's no end of tractor manufacturers.. I'd rather spend a little extra up front to get something useful and desirable than to go cheap and end up with something no one else wants either.. Stuff I've been seeing that was interesting was in the ~$5K and under range.. Turf tires look to be more in line with keeping the yard somewhat intact..

Any helpful info is greatly appreciated and again, Thanks for a great site.!! d:^) Schneeky..

 

[Gizmo2]

Welcome, Can't help you with your question but remember if it were not for newbie's the forum would not exist, everyone was a newbie one time or another and many of us still are.

 

[Bird]

Buying new goes against my DNA

Are you a boat dealer? I know a boat dealer who has a small John Deere tractor (but I don't remember the model) just to move boats and trailers around on his premises. And I know of two boat dealers who have B series Kubotas for the same purpose. None of the 3 have front end loaders on their tractors. But finding used tractors with front end loaders in the price range you mentioned might be a little difficult. I don't think I can help you other than to tell you what I would do in your situation, and that is to get acquainted with the tractor dealers in the area and let them know what you're looking for.

And welcome to Tractorbynet.

 

[Matt_Jr]

Welcome Schneeky. What are the weights of the boats/trailers you want to move? Also how much are the tongue weights? Any hills to move the boats/trailers up and down (stopping power)? -Matt

 

[Schneeky]

Thanks for the responses fellas.!!

Giz- Thanks for the Welcome.!!

Bird- Let's just say I do a good bit of tradin in many different things.. But boats are a big part of it.. If I can't get a bucket in that price range that's fine.. The cherry picker can handle most applications but it'd be neat to have the ability to just lift an OB off, carry it over and drop it inna truck bed and visa-versa.. I have some swindle-tradin buddies that get good use out of their tractors for such things.. They just have more room than I currrently do..

Matt_Jr- It's all pretty flat.. No real hills at all.. Mostly sandy soil.. The majority of the boats I fool with are under 2-3K#'s with tongue weights just over what I wanna pick up on a regular basis.. But it's not uncommon that I get something more t'wards the 5K# range so I'd like to keep the option to shuffle those rigs as well..

..What it comes down to this go'round is that I have a decent excuse and funds available here at the same time and I've never had a tractor before.. So I'm hoping that with a little research and some good advice I can avoid getting beat up over my desire to play with new toys.. d:^) Schneeky..

 

[flusher]

..Hey guys.. Thanks for this great forum.. Hat's off to ya.!!

..I'm looking for some kindof little tractor to shuffle boats and trailers around my yard plus be able to lift and move outboards (front loader?).. If I could get a mower in on the deal to replace my rider that would be nice but not really necessary.. Seems like I'd prolly be better off just keeping the mower and tractor jobs separate on this small of a place(<acre)..

..Anyways, I searched a few pages back and I think most similar newbie threads I found were concerned with heavier applications.. Buying new goes against my DNA but I don't want a klunker I hafta fight with every time either.. Since re-sale is such a big consideration I don't wanna get too off the wall with brand names.. Seems there's no end of tractor manufacturers.. I'd rather spend a little extra up front to get something useful and desirable than to go cheap and end up with something no one else wants either.. Stuff I've been seeing that was interesting was in the ~$5K and under range.. Turf tires look to be more in line with keeping the yard somewhat intact..

Any helpful info is greatly appreciated and again, Thanks for a great site.!! d:^) Schneeky..

Something like this 20hp (engine)/2WD Iseki with an FEL might work

http://www.lanetractor.com/used/large/P4270028.jpg

This one is listed at $6250.

 

[Gittyup]

I'd look for a 455 with a loader; might be in your bugdet as long as the boats/motors aren't much over 500 lbs of lift or so. Bigger tractors will be harder to maneuver and cost more than your budget. Though you might get lucky and find an older one with a loader for about that price.

A really good option is a honda 5018 (I think that's the model). Loader, 4WD, and 4 wheel steer. Would give you good manueverability. But, if you can find one, it'll cost ya.

I'd also consider the articulated machines: ventrac, powertrac, etc.

 

[roxynoodle]

It is hard to find 4wd tractors with loaders in your price range. I did, but it is a grey market Yanmar. Parts are easily available if you don't mind doing the work yourself though. A local trailer dealer is using the same tractor I have to move his trailers around the yard and mine is only about 18hp. Of course his trailers don't have boats on them. I would think you wouldn't need a real big tractor though and if you don't mind going grey market you could get closer to your price range for one.

 

[LBrown59]

. 1*Buying new goes against my DNA
2*Turf tires look to be more in line with keeping the yard somewhat intact....

1*Buying new goes against your DNA probably because you don't realize that used cost more than new due to o% new financing..
2* That's not an issue till you get into the bigger heavier tractors.

 

[Schneeky]

1*Buying new goes against your DNA probably because you don't realize that used cost more than new due to o% new financing..
2* That's not an issue till you get into the bigger heavier tractors.

..I guess you're right, I just ain't gettin that.. How can something that has a full time marketing/accounting/dealership staff trying to figure out just how much they can squeeze out of every sale, and that depreciates so much instantly when you take posession of it, be cheaper.? The only way I've ever seen to come out on a new purchase is to keep it forever..
..Economics applies somewhat universally as far as I know.. I trade in goods and services on almost a daily basis.. Please do explain.. I can't see how 0% financing trumps buying the already depreciated used gear if it's in good shape.. That sounds like a dealer talking..

.. You guys are prolly right on the loader part, tho'.. A fella can dream,eh.? And who knows, I do occasionally trip over a deal.. It'd be nice but again, more of a convenience than anything else at this time.. Saving grace being that I ain't in no itchin' hurry and have been getting along fine "the old way".. How about just getting something with the option to install a loader at some future date if one is wanted.? On a side note, how big of a deal is it to add and remove those things.? Last thing I want is to schtick it thru the hull of one of my boats.!!

..I went and looked around a coupla tractor places today and even the "small" ones were bigger than I really wanna run around the yard.. I'm thinkin more like a lawn/garden tractor on steroids I guess.. I'm goin out tomorrow to a small knot of tractor dealers north of Wilmington to hopefully get a better idea of what may do the trick..

Roxy- Ya reckon I need 4WD for this application.? How do you think 2WD compares to 4WD concerning resale.? Even if I really didn't need it I'd spend the extra on it if it made an appreciable difference in resale..

Gittyup- A diesel 455 w/mowing deck just showed up on a local Craig's List for $4K.. Sounds high.. I have a bud that has a 318 in need of some repair for $1K.. Just a coupla things to think about..

..Thanks for y'alls help so far.!! d:^) Schneeky..